2019 Spring Seminar Fire Investigation Essentials

The presenters:

ALAN WEICKER has over 38 years in the fire service and began investigating fires for the Edmonton fire Rescue Service in 1992. He currently investigates both public and private fire losses. He has demonstrated commitment to continuing education with NAFI as a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CFVI). He is a Level II Safety Codes Officer and is also a Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre FI-210 Wildfire trained investigator. Since 2007, Fire Investigator Weicker has routinely presented a variety of fire investigation topics, most recently to the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs – Inspection Division

ROSS SHIER has completed 30 years with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) including 17 years with the Fire Investigation Branch. He began investigating fires in 1987 and was promoted into the branch in 1992. He worked his way up through the ranks as Captain Investigator and then Chief of Fire Investigations in 2006. He retired from EFRS in 2009 and works as the CEO and Fire Investigator with the company he established in 2006, Precise Fire Investigations. He is a Life Time Member and Past President of the Fire Investigation Association of Alberta and currently sits on the Election Committee and Training Committee for the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). After several years of development and tremendous contribution from Industry Vehicle and Heavy Equipment Expert Fire Investigator Keith Fowler, both Ross Shier and Keith Fowler launched the Certified Vehicle Fires Course presented by the IAAI in March of 2018

JAY GOUPIL, Director – FIAA, MIAAI, CFEI
Senior Fire Inspector/Investigator with the Regional Emergency Services in the RMWB based in Fort McMurray. Certified as a Group B Level II Inspector and Group C Level II Investigator with the Safety Codes Council of Alberta. Joined the FIAA Board of Directors in October 2018 with nearly 10 years of experience in the fire investigation field. Before my current role, I worked as a fire sprinkler system designer/project manager in Ontario, Quebec and North Carolina

R.A.JOHN MCDERMOTT, IAAI-Fit, MIAAI, SCO (Fire) Fire Chief – Big Lakes County Fire Services
John McDermott began his career in fire services in January of 2000 in Slave Lake, Alberta. Beginning as a firefighter with the (now) Lesser Slave Regional Fire Service, John progressed I his training and education achieving international certification as a professional firefighter, HAZMAT Operator, Incident Safety Officer and Fire Investigator to name only a few. John began gaining experience in investigations in 2017 and transitioned from a volunteer position to a career position in the Fire Service in 2009. John has been certified as a Fire Investigation Technician by the IAAI in December 2013 and has investigated general fires, vehicle fires, arsons, explosions, fire deaths, and wildfires. He also has extensive experience in the ITO/Warrant writing in Alberta under the Safety Codes Act. John has been qualified as an expert in 13 different areas in fire, arson and explosion investigation where his opinion evidence has been presented and accepted in both Provincial and Court of Queen’s Bench court levels. John is published as a contributing author in the “Fire Investigator: Principals and Practices to NFPA 921 and 1033, Fifth Edition” He serves the FIAA as President ( 2017 – 2019). He is an active member of the IAAI and sits as the IAAI Career Path Committee Chair, the IAAI’s Training and Education Committee’s Chair of the Non-US Outreach Sub- Committee, Co-Chair of the IAAI International Training Conference and Member of the IAAI curriculum Development Sub-Committee.
John currently serves the residents and visitors as Fire Chief for Big Lake County located along the Lesser Slave Lake in Northwest Alberta where he lives with his wife Marcia and their children.

MIKE SHYKORA, CFEI, CFII, IAAI-Fit, Captain “A” Platoon County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service
Mike has over 20 years fire service experience which includes 7 years as a Fire/Rescue Officer with the Office of the Fire Commissioner (Alberta), 4 years fulltime as Fire Prevention Officer/EMT with Peace River Fire Department, 2 years as the primary  Investigator/Inspector, 6 years as a Firefighter with Drayton Valley/Brazeau County Fire Service, 15 years as a Command/Sector Officer, 18 years as an EMT, 0ne year as contract Fire Investigator with SiiD Consulting. 2 years as Ground Search and Rescue Operator with Brazeau Regional Search and Rescue, 2009-2011 Ministry of Municipal Affairs OH&S
Committee AIPE Union Representative, 2009 – 2014 GOA HAMAT/CBRNE field project SME.
Mike has conducted over 300 structural fires, 100 vehicular fires, various fatality fires as well as wildland fires, explosion and collision investigations, Occupational Health and Safety Investigations.
Mike has conducted over 300 Fire Code Inspections where 7 Orders were issued and 2 charges being laid.
Mike has presented on many seminars and maintains his education by taking training both in Canada and the US . He has training in the Blue Card modules, California Training Officer’s training, IAAI, ISFSI, California State Fire Marshall Command & Control of RIC Deployment, California Fire Training Officer’s The Ground Rules of Leadership and many others too numerous to mention.
Mike’s courtroom experience includes: R v Bremont 2014 (CC), R v Barnowski 2007 (TSA), R v Lungard
2007 (TSA), R v Pappas 2007 (CC) and R v Didzena 2013 (CC).
Mike has qualified as an expert witness in Alberta Provincial Court in 2008 and 2013 as well as provided
expert declaration for R v Grey in 2009 Mike has conducted test burns on various types of materials and ignitable liquids to examine burn patterns and behavior. He has also participated in test burns of vehicles and structures to examine burn patterns and conducted construction of various incendiary devices for analysis.

SCOTT HANELT, IAAI-FIT, IAAI-ECT, CFEI, CVFI, MIAAI, PETA, Fire Marshall/Chief Investigator
Scott has been a member of the Medicine Hat Fire Service for 29 years.
He is NFPA 1001, 1002, 1021, 1033, 1035, 1041, 1521, and ICS 400 trained.
Scott is an approved CFEI Proctor for National Association of Fire Investigators. He is a Certified Post Blast Investigator through ATF Post Blast Investigation course. He has been certified by Calgary Police Tactical Unit as a Police Explosive Technician Assistant (P.E.T.A.)
Scott has trained in RCMP law Enforcement Investigations Course, Level I and Level II.
Scott is certified as a Certified Fire Investigator Technician (IAAI-ECT), Certified Evidence Collection Technician (IAAI-ECT), through IAAI and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) and Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI) through NAFI .
Scott is certified through GoA, Alberta Hinton Training Centre Certified Wildland Investigator “FI-210 Wildfire Origin and Cause”
Scott is a graduate of the United Sates Fire Academy (F.E.M.A.) Fire/Arson Investigation curriculum

DON ROSLAND

Don is the Regional Technical Advisor with the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) for the East Central Region of the province. His duties are to build and maintain relationships with municipal partners and stakeholders in the region. The duties may include fire investigations, assisting accredited communities in fire investigations, fire inspections, fire code concerns/questions, training issues, assisting with incidents affecting the municipality, fire training grant reviews, fire department reviews, along with any other special projects.
He is the team lead of the fire investigators with the OFC and is the OFC contract manager for fire investigations that included fire investigations, laboratory services, K-9 services and electrical engineering services.
Don is a Fire Safety Codes Officer; Inspector Group B Level 2, Investigator Group C Level 2, Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators
Don is an active member of the Fire Investigation Association of Alberta and has been on the Board of Directors and is a Past President of the Association. He has been a member of the IAAI since 2003.

May 7 – 9, 2019
Day 1 – May 7th – 08:30 – 17:00
NFPA 921 Overview, Investigation Process, Fire Pattern Basics & Analysis, Vehicle Fires, Investigation &
the Law, Insurance – Brief Overview & MAFP – 1244 – Brief Overview
Day 2 – May 8th – 08:30 – 17:00
Recording the Scene, Case Studies, Witness Statements, Explosions – Brief Overview, Group
Assignments, Investigations, Live Burns & Group presentation preparation time
Day 3 – May 9th – 08:30 – 17:00
Group presentation preparation time, Group Presentations & Written Exam
It is recommended that you bring your LAPTOP & a copy of NFPA 921
INCLUDED IN YOUR REGISTRATION FEE
FIAA will be providing morning coffee and pastries as well as a hot lunch each day.
Attention: Alberta Safety Codes Officers. LEARN & EARN!
This course qualifies for “5” Alberta Safety Codes Council Continuing Education Credits
We have applied to the Insurance Council for Continuing Education Credits

Fire Investigation Essentials – member $850 / non-member $950
EARLY BIRD – Register by April 1, 2019
Fire Investigation Essentials – member $775 / non-member $875
ACCOMMODATIONS :
Southfort Inn 140 Town Crest Road Ft. Saskatchewan, AB
A block of 30 rooms has been set reserved for course participants. Call 780-589-2000 & reference “FIAA” prior to April 18, 2019, to confirm your rate of $85/night (+ taxes)
Course Location:
Strathcona County Emergency Services – Heartland Station # 4
55305 RR214
Strathcona County, AB
Travel East of Fort Saskatchewan, on Hwy 15, turn right on Secondary Hwy 830 ( Range Road 214). Station # 4 will be the first entrance South, on your left. Use the entrance by the flag poles to access the classroom.
Google maps directions :
https://goo.gl/maps/DsLD9ELdEBz

2019-FIAA-Spring seminar.pdf

2019-FIAA spring course – directions to venue.pdf

To register, click here.